Bruce Erickson

Bruce Erickson passed away too soon at home.

He was preceded in death by his parents Gretchen (Groth) and Milton “Ole” Erickson.

Milton was a driver for Greyhound Bus Service and was at work when killed by a hit and run driver in 1959.  Gretchen always regretted wearing black on her wedding day.  Gretchen later married Edo Bartolomei who has also passed away.

Bruce was born September 23, 1954 in Portland Oregon.  He enjoyed living in the Portland house filled with Hygrangea until age 5 when his dad died.  Gretchen later remarried and the family moved to Medford, Oregon.

He graduated from Oregon State University and volunteered for the fire department during that time.

His interest in helping others led to a full-time career as fire fighter/paramedic in Oregon.

He changed careers in 1984 and began working as an accountant in the rural telephone industry where he thrived in a variety of positions.  In the early 1990’s Bruce became the general manager of Blue Valley Telephone Cooperative in Kansas.  Partnering with the National Telephone Cooperative Association.  He lobbied member of Congress on retirement benefits matters and Usaid on developing telephone cooperatives in Bulgaria, with the Kansas Telecommunications Industry Association, Bruce researched, designed, and presented arguments for changes to the rate of settlement agreement for the Kansas Corporation Commission.

Illinois State University in Bloomington-Normal he earned his Masters and PHD.  Bruce was honored to have Jan Neuleib as his dissertation committee chair.

Bruce travelled the 2000-mile Lewis & Clark route on a BMW motorcycle with an interesting stop at Devils Tower.

Bruce went on to teach Technical Writing in the English Dept at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Bruce married Nancy Kleiss in 1994 at St Thomas Catholic Church, Philo, Il, she survives.

Also surviving are Signe Wray (sister) and Lisa Hayes (sister) from Arizona, Marcie Schultis, Lisa Nicole Rehard, and Anje Reimer(nieces).

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Bruce had a variety of careers but loved books and teaching his students the skills of writing.  In his memory, please share a book, give a book, read a book, or write a story.

Special thanks to his friends Boyd, Rick and Mary Kay, Lauren and Patty, Ricia and Eric, Lauri, Bruce, Mariahn, Jim and Bonnie, and Earnest for being supportive during his life’s adventures.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Bruce Erickson, please visit our floral store.